Lake Ontario Maritime History

                          Kingston Harbor in the 19th century.                   Another old view of Kingston harbor.   Nineteen Drowned When Yacht Capsized in 1851 Near Wolfe Island By Richard Palmer A voyage that started out as a pleasure cruise to attend a regatta from Kington to Cape Vincent and Clayton on August 14, 1851 came to a tragic end when the yacht Janet overturned during a squall, drowning 17 women and two men. There were 15 survivors. For its size the vessel was way overloaded with passengers. The Kingston Herald of August 15, 1851 reported:  With poignant and sorrowing feelings, we have to record one of the most melancholy casualties which ever cast its dark gloom over our city. Yesterday morning a gay and happy party started on a picnic excursion, to Cape Vincent and French Creek, in a new sail boat belonging to Mr. D. B. Jenkins of this city.  Of the thirty-four who left the wharf here, only fifteen have returned, the other nineteen having met a watery grave.

 

    Prominently shown in this early view of Oswego harbor are the paddle wheel steamers Rochester , left, and Lady of the Lake , which sailed on Lake Ontario. In the distance is a two-masted screw propeller. Regarding the propeller shown on the right, it is believed it may have been either the Chicago or the Oswego , built by Sylvester Doolittle in Oswego in 1842. It isn’t the Vandalia, the first screw propeller on the Great Lakes built in Oswego in 1841, as she was sloop rigged and the one shown is a two-master.  The Lady of the Lake and the  Rochester were built in 1842-1843, respectively, in Oswego by George S. Weeks, whose yard is seen at far right. Later this yard was operated by George Goble into the 1900s. These are the only known depictions of these vessels. The lithograph is also of historical significance as it shows details of the second lighthouse,  the locations of local landmarks such as Fort Ontario on the bluff at left, and other buildings in the city. Conservation